Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Vestibular System

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.

Equilibrium and Balance

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Perceptual response characterization in acute vestibular implant stimulation.

Journal of neurology·2025

Same author

Bilateral vestibulopathy - insight in impact on quality of life and economic burden.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2025

Same author

Exploring the role of the electrically evoked Vestibulo-Ocular reflex in vestibular implant surgery.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2025

Same author

Bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children.

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology·2025

Same author

Olfactory implants: international opinion paper on emerging technologies and clinical applications.

Rhinology·2025

Same author

Vestibular implant stimulation: pulse amplitude modulation versus combined pulse rate and amplitude modulation.

Journal of neural engineering·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Vestibular implant stimulation can improve self-motion perception.

B L Vermorken¹, S C J Van Boxel², B Volpe²

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Balance Disorders, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bernd.vermorken@mumc.nl.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

|December 22, 2025

Summary

This study shows that vestibular implant (VI) stimulation can improve self-motion perception in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BV). Excitatory stimulation enhanced yaw rotation perception, offering potential for better spatial orientation in BV patients.

Keywords:

Perceptual threshold Self-motion perception Vestibular implant Vestibular stimulation

More Related Videos

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Published on: May 23, 2013

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform

Published on: May 23, 2013

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Otolaryngology
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) causes oscillopsia, unsteadiness, and impaired spatial orientation due to altered self-motion perception.
Previous research indicates elevated perceptual self-motion thresholds in BV patients.
This study investigates the impact of a multi-canal vestibular implant on self-motion perception thresholds.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effect of multi-canal vestibular implant (VCI) stimulation on perceptual self-motion thresholds in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BV).

Main Methods:

Nine BV patients received an investigational intralabyrinthine multi-canal VCI.
Perceptual self-motion thresholds for yaw rotations were measured using a hydraulic platform under three conditions: VI OFF, VI ON (symmetric modulation), and VI ON (asymmetric modulation).
Rotations were categorized as excitatory (towards implanted side) or inhibitory (away from implanted side).

Main Results:

Vestibular implant (VI) stimulation significantly improved perceptual self-motion thresholds during excitatory yaw rotations compared to no stimulation.
Improvements were observed with both symmetric and asymmetric VI modulation during excitatory stimulations.
No significant improvement was found for inhibitory yaw rotations, though symmetric modulation showed a trend towards improvement.

Conclusions:

Multi-canal vestibular implant stimulation shows promise for enhancing direction-specific self-motion perception in BV patients, particularly for yaw rotations.
Excitatory stimulation effects on perception appear more significant than inhibitory stimulation, aligning with prior vestibular implant research.
Vestibular implants offer a potential therapeutic avenue for improving spatial orientation and reducing symptoms in bilateral vestibulopathy.